Short Term and Long Term Memory

Question 1

Sensory information is inputted into the STM. How long does in remain in the STM before being forgotten?

Answer 1

Around 18 seconds

Question 2

How can information be transferred to the LTM?

Answer 2

If we rehearse information, we can store in our STM for many minutes and it can then be transferred to our LTM

Question 3

How long can information be retained in our LTM?

Answer 3

From minutes to a lifetime

Question 4

How does the STM encode information?

Answer 4

Acoustically through repetition

Question 5

How does the LTM encode information?

Answer 5

Usually semantic, but it can be visual or acoustic

Question 6

How can information be forgotten in the STM?

Answer 6

By displacement (when the STM is full and pushes out info) or decay (failing to be stored in LTM)

Question 7

How can information be forgotten in the LTM?

Answer 7

By interference (when new info overwrites old info) or retrieval failure (can’t find information)

Question 8

What is Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory?

Answer 8

Memories are stored as schemas, so when we recall events, we retrieve information from our schemas and elaborate them, which may result in a reconstruction of the event

Question 9

What are omissions, transformations, familiarisation and rationalisation?

Answer 9

Omissions - leaving out irrelevant or unpleasant details
Transformation - details are changes to make them more familiar and rational
Familiarisation - change unfamiliar info to align with our schema
Rationalisation - adding info